OUR PEOPLE
New York Life | May 13, 2024
The Day in a New York Life article series offers a look into the daily lives of employees: what they do, their career paths, what they find most interesting about their jobs, and how they spend their time outside of the office.
Since joining New York Life in 2022, Daudley Fanfan has served on Agency’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) team, which is part of Agency Shared Services. Agency Shared Services provides strategic and tactical support to all Value Streams. The Agency DEI team was formed to advance our DEI efforts in the field by creating a more equitable and inclusive environment for all agents, managers, and employees.
In his role, Fanfan works closely with his team and field leaders to identify opportunities to embed DEI in our processes that support key business initiatives. He leads key programs including the Cultural Ambassador program, Agency DEI’s flagship program, where agents are appointed as a DEI partner to advance cultural competency on a local level.
Fanfan has been in the insurance industry for 24 years. “I began my career in insurance as an agent. As I grew in my career, I recognized the need for representation, and an opportunity to provide education and access to financial services in communities that historically have been underserved or marginalized,” he says. “I've always admired New York Life’s efforts in diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the company has a history and commitment to always doing the right thing. When the opportunity came along to join the new Agency DEI division, working specifically with our agents and field leadership, I knew it was the right time.
Fanfan says interacting with our agents and field managers has been the most interesting thing about his role. “There’s a lot of misinformation out there on the topic of DEI. Our work creates a more inclusive experience for all agents, regardless of culture, background, or experiences. We create high-performing teams by bringing people together from different backgrounds and complementary skillsets, and in turn, creating a more meaningful agent and client experience.,” he says.
Fanfan works to create understanding about building culture through a DEI lens, rooted in our core values of humanity and integrity. “It’s fascinating and rewarding to see the transformation that happens when you help someone understand what DEI is, and most importantly, what it's not,” he says. “There's no end point when it comes to learning about diverse experiences. Cultural competency is a learning continuum.”
Fanfan says while he’s had only a few formal mentors throughout his career, he builds and maintains a remarkable network of people and learns something from each of them. “Friends, colleagues, and peers have all been a source of inspiration, motivation, and have offered me valuable lessons in my career,” he says.
The best career advice Fanfan ever got is, “Growth happens outside your comfort zone. All things are difficult before they become easy,” he says.
Something most people don’t know is that Fanfan has been a barber since he was in middle school. “I started by experimenting with friends and family members. Then, I became the neighborhood barber, and eventually I helped open a barber shop,” he explains. He says the barber shop has always been “a safe space where people from all corners of life come to talk about anything and everything, and I've always enjoyed that human connection.”
When he’s not in the office, Fanfan enjoys spending time with his family, working out at the gym, and being an active parent in the community. He also coaches his daughter’s lacrosse team a few evenings a week.
I get on the train and do some reading. I try to catch up on the news.
I always start with a list of what I need to do that day and cross-reference it with my to-do list for the week. Lists are a big way that I stay organized.
At some point in the morning, I try to do a quick check-in with my manager before our day gets busy. We discuss projects and if there are any pressing items that need immediate attention.
I also like to check in with the team to see what’s top of mind and ask where we can collaborate. The rest of the morning is reserved for intense, focused work and critical meetings, because I tend to be at my mental best in the morning.
I head to the gym and grab something to eat when I’m done with my workout.
I’m in meetings for the next few hours – usually project updates and conversations with the field. I also like to use in-office time to network, get to know people, and pick their brains. I schedule coffee, catch ups, things like that. I always end the day by checking in with my team. Everything starts and ends with the team.
After work, it’s all about family – staying connected and being plugged into what’s happening in my children’s lives.
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Kevin Maher
New York Life Insurance Company
(212) 576-7937
Kevin_B_Maher@newyorklife.com